State housing agency distributes $400K to City of Fort Worth to combat homelessness

(AUSTIN) — Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (“TDHCA”) has announced the City of Fort Worth, coordinating with the United Way of Tarrant County, will receive more than $400,000 through the Homeless Housing and Services Program (“HHSP”) to help provide housing and support services to individuals and families at-risk of or experiencing homelessness.

TDHCA Governing Board approved the funding at its meeting of July 27, 2017, as part of a $4.9 million HHSP allocation. The cities of Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio also received funding.

“These funds serve as a vital resource of help for some of our most vulnerable Texans, helping them work toward self-sufficiency through supportive housing and a variety of services and enabling them to overcome the challenges of homelessness,” explained Tim Irvine, Executive Director of TDHCA.

Services and activities provided through HHSP include construction, development or procurement of housing for homeless persons, rehabilitation of structures targeted to serve homeless persons, and provisions of direct services and case management to homeless persons or those at-risk of homelessness.

HHSP was created during the 81st Legislative Session to fund homeless prevention and homeless services in the eight largest Texas cities. In FY16, more than 6,400 individuals were reported as receiving HHSP assistance, and to date HHSP has served more than 45,600 individuals making up approximately 35,500 households. Also in FY 16, most clients served were between the ages of 19-50, followed by clients between 51-65 years old, as shown by the following chart:

HHSP Assistance By Age Fiscal Year 2016

Age

in

Years

Organization Name

0-10

11-18

19-50

51-65

66+

City of Arlington

57

47

62

15

2

City of Austin, Health and Human Services Dept

38

6

44

36

2

City of Dallas

0

3

538

405

24

City of El Paso, Department of Community and Human Development

411

222

449

91

13

City of Houston

123

71

280

249

5

Haven for Hope of Bexar County

395

116

1411

430

33

Mother Teresa Shelter, Inc.

18

21

527

165

21

United Way of Tarrant County

8

4

34

53

9

Total

1050

490

3345

1444

109

About the Texas Department of Housing and Community AffairsThe Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs is committed to expanding fair housing choice and opportunities for Texans through the administration and funding of affordable housing and homeownership opportunities, weatherization, and community-based services with the help of for-profits, nonprofits, and local governments. For more information about fair housing, funding opportunities, or services in your area, please visit www.tdhca.state.tx.us or the Learn about Fair Housing in Texas page.